A Luxury Four Seasons Resort is Planned for Caye Chapel
On Saturday afternoon, a groundbreaking ceremony was held on Caye Chapel where a mega million dollar tourism development project is set to commence. The island is the construction site for a Four Seasons luxury resort, complete with several over-water villas. Coming in at an initial price tag of two hundred million US dollars, representatives of the investors, as well as Prime Minister John Briceño and several other government officials were on hand for the big reveal. News Five’s Isani Cayetano was also present at the ceremony and filed the following report.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Ground has been broken for the construction of a world-class, luxury resort on Caye Chapel. The island is privately held and its owners are partnering with the Four Seasons brand to develop an idyllic vacation stay just off the coast of Belize. Jorge Vargas is the development director. He’s been working on Caye Chapel since 2016.
Jorge Vargas
Jorge Vargas, Development Director, Caye Chapel
“We have a hundred and ten hectares or property here. It was previously disrupted, but what we are trying [to do] is to maintain as much as we found of the original property and using and creating a new environment for a community in the property. As you can see, the property goes from south to north. We have a total of eight kilometers of coastline, four facing to the east side with great sunrise, open to the reef, and the other four kilometers are facing to the west side with the beautiful sunsets that we can achieve here.”
The initial phase to be undertaken by the Caye Chapel Development Company will see an investment of two hundred million US dollars which will include a hotel, as well as a ten-hole golf course designed by renowned pro golfer Greg Norman. Prime Minister John Briceño, as well as his administration, has been supportive of the initiative.
Prime Minister John Briceno
Prime Minister John Briceno
“I think it’s something exciting for Belize, that finally now we have the Four Seasons in Belize. I think it’s something that’s going to help to transform, to continue to transform the tourism [industry] in Belize. So I am very happy, I am very excited, as a government, that we can have now a group of investors now wanting to build a Four Seasons in Belize.”
The five-star hotel promises one hundred and four rooms, as well as fifty private residences.
Diego Noguera Lomelin
Diego Noguera Lomelin, Developer’s Representative
“With an investment of more than two hundred million dollars, it represents a vision that transcends boundaries and a commitment to excellence that knows no limits. Caye Chapel will soon transform into a world-class paradise with a range of offerings that are simply unparalleled. Imagine waking up next to breathtaking views every morning knowing that you are part of the largest, private, luxury resort development in the world. This, my friends, is the future that we are shaping today.”
The plan includes a number of over-water structures that are associated with the hotel chain, and as many as ninety-seven lots are being offered for sale for residential development. To build the hotel, however, a Panamanian company has been contracted.
Jorge Vargas
“Now we are in good shape to say that we are in the process of starting heavy construction and for the second part of 2025, we will open the hotel. So the next twenty-four months will be heavy construction, but we will open the hotel before the end of 2025. [To] develop a project of this level requires skilled companies and people that if a market is not prepared, we need to consider bringing in other companies. Specifically, the general contractor that we brought to this project is a company and he has experience, not only in Panama but also in Costa Rica.”
The project will see over a thousand employment opportunities being created. It will also see more jobs being made available once the resort is opened for business sometime in 2025.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Now here we have the Four Seasons, one investment brings in two hundred million US dollars that they expect in the next two years to invest in Belize. It speaks volumes about the kind of confidence that they have, the kind of excitement that they have in Belize and for them to see something special in Belize. They are saying, we are prepared to put two hundred million [dollars] in Belize as a first part of their investment because they see that Belize is well-placed, the natural beauty that we have and, let’s not forget, the people. The people also makes it even more special. We are warm, we are friendly and we are open because we live in a melting pot.”
Isani Cayetano for News Five.